He comes to a particular man three years. 1. In Youth. I have planted thee in my ⟨p. 19⟩Vineyard, given thee the influence of my mercies; where is thy fruitfulness? Alas, the young man sends him away, with a Nondum tempus ficorum: it is too early for me to fall to Mortification; would you put me to penance, before I have had the leisure and pleasure to offend? He is ready to send Christ away in the Language of that foul Spirit; 1Art thou come to torment me before my time? But whose charge is it to Remember thy Creator, Diebus Junentutis? Then the conquest is most glorious, because then it is most difficult. You say, It is never too late; but I am sure, It is never too soon, to be gracious and holy. The Devil is a false Sexton, and sets back the clock of Time in prosperity: in the day of trouble, he will make it run fast enough. 2. In middle age; and now the buying of Farms, and trying of Beasts; the pleasures of Matrimony, the cares for posterity. take up all the rooms of the soul. Men rather busy themselves to gather the fruits of earth, then to yield the fruits of heaven. Here is strength of nature, and fullness of stature; but still a defect of grace. Perhaps, Christ hath now some fair promises, of fruits hereafter: 2Let me first go bury my Father, then. But (a thousand to one) he finds something in Domo, left by his father, that keeps him a Domino, from following his Master. To prevent this, it is ⟨p. 20⟩his caution to the entertained servant; Forget thine own people, 3and thy fathers house: rather forgo and forget thy fathers house, then thy Makers service. 3. In old age: now the decay of body should argue a decay of sin. The taste finds no relish in riot, the ears cannot distinguish Music, the eyes are dim to pleasing objects, very Desire fails: now all things promise mortification. He that cannot stir abroad in the world, what should he do but recollect himself, and settle his thoughts on the world to come? Now fruits, or never. Not yet: Morosity, Pride, and Avarice, are the three diseases of old age: men covet most, when they have time to spend least: as cheating Tradesmen then get up most commodities into their hands, when they mean to break. Still he comes seeking fruit, and is returned with a Non Inuentus.
He comes to a particular man three yeeres. 1. In Youth. I haue planted thee in my ⟨p. 19⟩Vineyard, giuen thee the influence of my mercies; where is thy fruitfulnesse? Alas, the young man sends him away, with a Nondum tempus ficorum: it is too earely for me to fall to Mortification; would you put me to pennance, before I haue had the leasure and pleasure to offend? He is ready to send Christ away in the Language of that foule Spirit; 1Art thou come to torment mee before my time? But whose charge is it to Remember thy Creator, Diebus Iunentutis? Then the conquest is most glorious, because then it is most difficult. You say, It is neuer too late; but I am sure, It is neuer too soone, to be gracious and holy. The Deuill is a false Sexton, and sets backe the clocke of Time in prosperitie: in the day of trouble, hee will make it run fast enough. 2. In middle age; and now the buying of Farmes, and trying of Beasts; the pleasures of Matrimony, the cares for posteritie. take vp all the roomes of the soule. Men rather busie themselues to gather the fruites of earth, then to yeeld the fruites of heauen. Heere is strength of nature, and fulnesse of stature; but still a defect of grace. Perhaps, Christ hath now some faire promises, of fruits heereafter: 2Let mee first go bury my Father, then. But (a thousand to one) he finds something in Domo, left by his father, that keepes him a Domino, from following his Master. To preuent this, it is ⟨p. 20⟩his caution to the entertained seruant; Forget thine owne people, 3and thy fathers house: rather forgoe and forget thy fathers house, then thy Makers seruice. 3. In old age: now the decay of body should argue a decay of sinne. The taste finds no relish in ryot, the eares cannot distinguish Musicke, the eies are dimme to pleasing obiects, very Desire failes: now all things promise mortification. Hee that cannot stirre abroad in the world, what should he doe but recollect himselfe, and settle his thoughts on the world to come? Now fruites, or neuer. Not yet: Morositie, Pride, and Auarice, are the three diseases of olde age: men couet most, when they haue time to spend least: as cheating Tradesmen then get vp most commodities into their hands, when they meane to breake. Still hee comes seeking fruite, and is returned with a Non Inuentus.
- 1Math. 8.29.
- 2Luke. 9 61
- 3Psal. 45.10.
